RE-COVERING A
DROP-IN SEAT
Cut a panel of
calico, allowing at least 20 cm (8 in) all round to wrap around the sides and
under the seat. Layout the fabric, wrong side up, and center the chair seat on
the panel. Wrap the fabric around the drop-in seat, tightening it over the
front and back rails first. Knock in temporary tacks at the center front and
back, then wrap the fabric tightly around the sides and use tracks at the center
of each side. Nail the fabric down each side of the underside of the seat,
spacing the tacks about 5 cm apart, to within 5-10 cm of each corner. Wrap the
corner of the panel of fabric over the frame and tack in place, close to the
corner of the seat.
Make an inverted
pleat around the corner so that you can wrap the side turnings together to form
a neat mitre. Tack in place. Repeat to fit the fabric outer cover, positioning
motifs centrally if the fabric has a bold pattern. Trim away excess fabric. Cut
a piece of canvas or black linen upholstery fabric to the size of the underside
of the seat, adding 12 mm (! in) all round. Turn under and press 4 cm (1! in)
turnings all around the canvas and tack them in place underneath the seat to
cover the ra wedge of the seat fabric.
REPAIRING AN
OVER-STUFFED SEAT
Strip off the old covering and webbing, noting how it was
constructed and reserving stuffing and padding for re-use if possible. Use a tack
lifter to lever out tacks. Traditional seats have a basket work of webbing
across the base of the seat. Do not cut webbing to length: position the end of
the first strip to be fixed with the raw edge level with the inside of the
frame of the chair and fix in place with three tacks, close to the outer edge
of the rail. Fold the webbing back over the end, and fix with two more tacks
inside the first three. Use a webbing stretcher or wooden block to stretch the
webbing across the seat, and hold in place with three tacks, close to the outer
edge of the fixing rail. Trim the webbing 4cm from the tacks and fold over and
fix the end with two more tacks inside the previous three. Repeat for all the
strips of webbing.
The gap between the webbing strips should be less than the
width of the webbing. Work from front to back across the chair, and then weave
the crosswise webbing over and under the first strips as you work.
Cut a piece of
canvas for the lining, allowing a 2.5cm turning all around. Stretch the canvas
across the frame, with the grain running parallel to the front and back rails.
Hold in place with temporary tacks at the sides and corners and when you are
happy with the fit, knock in the tacks. Turn in the allowance and tack in place
every 5cm or so all around the chair. 3 Make a series of large back stitches
(known as bridle ties) around the edge of the canvas. Tease out horsehair and
arrange it on the seat, tucking it under the loops around the edge. Build up
the center of the seat and ensure that the frame is well padded.
Fit calico over
the seat, fixing it firmly along the straight back edge of the seat first, then
stretching it to the front and then the sides of the chair. Hold it taut with
temporary tacks as you work. Around the legs, cut into the fabric at the
corners, and wrap it firmly around the seat, without straining it at the
corners. Tuck in the fullness at the front corners and turn under the fabric in
line with the top of the leg before tacking in place.
Trim away fabric close to
the tacks. 5 Lay a padding of cotton wadding or v interlining over the calico so
that it w over the edge of the frame. Trim excess fabric corners.
Fit the cover in
the same way as calico: the top cover may be held in place' brass upholstery
tacks, closely spaced, or ' ordinary tacks. Some styles have to be f along the
outer edge of the side and front J others can be fixed under the frame of the 6
Glue a plain woven or decorative 1 trim to the edge of the upholstery to any
tacks that show and make a neat between the frame of the chair and the fa Fit a
base of canvas or calico for a neat finish.
Fit calico over
the seat, fixing it firmly along the straight back edge of the seat first, and
then stretching it to the front and then the sides of the chair. Hold it taut
with temporary tacks as you work. Around the legs, cut into the fabric at the
corners, and wrap it firmly around the seat, without straining it at the
corners. Tuck in the fullness at the front corners and turn under the fabric in
line with the top of the leg before tacking in place. Trim away fabric close to
the tacks.
